18 Killed In New Delhi Station crush
At least 18 people were killed and 10 people injured in a crowd crush at a New Delhi railway station on Saturday as passengers tried to board trains heading to the world’s largest religious gathering, according to local media citing police.
In a statement made by the police, 18 people including 9 women and 5 children lost their lives in the stampede that occurred around 10 p.m. at New Delhi Railway station.
The Deputy commissioner of Delhi police KPS Malhotra told India’s ANI news that the crush took place late Saturday night, when delays to two train services and an influx of passengers led to overcrowding.
He said the “situation went out of control for a brief spell of 10 to 15 minutes.”
Passengers Witnesses
Ruby Devi said the crowd at the Indian capital’s main railway station had been so big she was unable to get inside.
Umesh Giri, whose wife Shilam Devi died in the crush, said that the crowd was “uncontrollable” as he tried to board the Prayagraj Express.
Dharmendra Singh, who was also travelling to Prayagraj, told India’s PTI news agency that there were” far more people than I have ever seen at this station”.
“In front of me, six or seven women were taken away on stretchers.
KPS Malhotra, deputy commissioner of police (railways), said that authorities were investigating what led to the crush.
“This happened due to a delay in two trains arriving and more people gathering at the station,” he said.
Opposition leaders have criticised the government, accusing them of administrative failure.
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in India’s parliament, posted on X that authorities should have made better arrangements at the station, given the large number of devotees traveling to Prayagraj.
The incident occurred just weeks after a crowd crush at the religious festival, Kumbh Mela, in northern India, where the tragedy killed dozens of people. Tens of millions of Hindus had gathered to bathe in sacred river waters on one of the holy days of the six-week event.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “distressed” at the latest deaths.
“My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected,” Modi wrote on X Sunday.
